Points add up for Loggers, not DN

It is increasingly easy these days for the Del Norte High wrestling team not to bother with team scores.

Take the Warriors’ Wednesday night dual meet against Eureka High at Del Norte High School, a 60-24 Loggers victory. Shorthanded once again, Del Norte saw individual improvement and struggle as the Warriors went 4-5 in nine contested matches. All nine ended in pins, six in the first period.

Indeed, though the home team did not leave its vocal crowd without something to cheer for.

Robert Boulby (147 pounds) and Hawk Mattz (154 pounds) each picked up pins in the first two contested matches, in 1 minute and 38 seconds and 2:29, respectively.

Warriors junior David Plechaty scored six points for his team with a brutally efficient victory at 197 pounds. Plechaty pinned Eureka’s Michael McClurg in 32 seconds, the quickest result of the evening.

“I had wrestled him before so I kind of knew what he was going to do,” Plechaty said. “I sprawled out, then got him on his back and into a cradle.”

In the 122-pound match, Del Norte freshman Justin Schrader overcame a 4-0 deficit early in his match against Eureka’s Lypin Lee by bridging out of a hold, then pinning Lee in 1:13. Schrader wrestled with an injured left foot but let adrenaline take over.

Del Norte gets the weekend off from competition as the Warriors prepare for the Humboldt-Del Norte Big 5 League championships, held in Eureka on Feb. 16. The top three placers in each weight class qualify for the North Coast Section tournament.